Method and machinery for making bottle caps



June 17, 1952 5. (JOHN METHOD AND MACHINERY FOR MAKING BOTTLE CAPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 24, 1948 INVENTOR Beam Cofin ATTORNEYS June 17, 1952 Filed Nov. 24, 1948 B. COHN 2,600,393

METHOD AND MACHINERY FOR MAKING BOTTLE CAPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllillllllllll i 20' I/ I I// 1'! Y //I /f /-1 IT C 5 v Q Q 29 65 A 51 P, )12. 10

Ju I T I M A .15. 1 .11. T D I T 1 a J23 12! 122 2 INVENTOR Benno Cohn/ g6 ATTORNEYS B. COHN June 17, 1952 METHOD AND MACHINERY FOR MAKING BOTTLE CAPS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 24, 1948 INVENTOR Benno 00km BY Wa /642M @M AI I' T-I'N'EYS June 17, 1952 B. COHN 2,600,393

METHOD AND MACHINERY FOR MAKING BOTTLE CAPS Filed Nov. 24, 1948 4 sheets-Sheet 4 llllllllllllllllllllllml J Fig.5.

PUNCH STARTS PUNCH STOPS g INVENTOR Beam C'pfizv ATTORNEYS Patented June 17, 1952 METHOD AND MACHINERY FOR MAKING BOTTLE CAPS Benno Cohn, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Ferdinand Gutmann & 00., a corporation of New York Application November 24, 1948, Serial No. 61,866

12 Claims. 1

This invention relates more particularly to methods and machinery for assembling crown caps composed of crown shells, cushion discs and center spots.

As center spotted crown caps are generally applied to packages or containers the selling price of which is but a few cents, the caps used thereon must be very inexpensive. Such cost consideration makes necessary assembly of the inexpensive component elements at high rate of speed and with a minimum of maintenance cost, which requires a cap assembly machine that operates with a minimum of strain, shock and vibration.

As conducive to a clear understanding of the invention it is noted that where the crown shells are advanced in single steps from station to station by a single rack, performing a translational movement in a circular path of the diameter of each step, the period of dwell at each station is substantially equal to the period of movement. "Accordingly the crown shell remains at rest at each station for a period of time adequate to perform even the relatively complex operation at the center spotting station, wherethe center spot ribbon is advanced and stopped, and the center spot is blanked out and positioned against the liner in the crown shell as shown, for example, in the Patent No. 2,117,711, dated May 1'7, 1938.

Where, in an effort to double the output of such machine from approximately 400 caps per minute to 800 caps per minute without increasing the speed of its drive, the expedient is used of duplicating the shell advancing racks and operating the same in opposite direction as well as in opposed phase, the period of dwell of the shell at each station is drastically reduced to approximately ten per cent of the dwell attained with the use of but a single shell advancing rack. Accordingly, each of the operations insofar as they involve the entry and removal of mechanism into and from the shell must be effected during the greatly shortened period of dwell thereof at each station. This has not posed any particular problem insofar as concerns the steps of applying the adhesive or of spreading the adhesive or feeding the cork liner into the shell. But the center spotting operation does present a problem in that mode of operation. For where only the punch element of the center spotting die is positively actuated and the sleeve element utilizes merely a buffer spring for its operation, such die, if operated at such increased speed becomes mireliable due to excessive vibration of the buffer and return spring for the die sleeve, and the shock of operation at such speed even if otherwise feasible would result in the need for frequent replacement. In addition, if the ribbon from which the center spot is punched is stepped through the die sleeve at the rate necessary to give an output of 800 caps per minute, it is likely to tear, or the feed may be irregular with the result that too much ribbon may be fed with a consequent waste of material or too little ribbon may be fed so that the center spot will not be a complete circular disc, but will have a crescent cut out of its periphery. In any of these circumstances frequent stoppage of the machine would be necessary for replacement or adjustment of such ribbon.

It is accordingly among the objects of the invention to provide a method by which, with but a minimum of strain, stress and vibration, center spots are blanked out and correctly positioned in the crown shell despite the very short interval that the shell remains at rest at the center spotting station in the desired high speed operation and yet to afford facilities for feeding the center spot ribbon for the dieing operation at the feasible, relatively slower speed desirable for ribbon feeding to obviate tearing thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the above type for assembling crown caps with cork or other liner and center spot, which is compact and rugged in construction, which requires but a minimum number of operating parts, none of which is delicate or apt to become out of order, which is capable of continuous high speed operation for long periods without attention and the working parts of which are readily accessible for maintenance and repair and the cost of upkeep of which is low.

Another object of the invention is to provide a center spot die for a machine of the above type which will cut a center spot from ribbon material and will press such spot and center the latter in position against the liner of the crown shell, in rapid sequence during a minute interval of time with but the minimum amount of shock and vibration.

According to the invention from one of its aspects, much of the stroke of the center spotting die (including an accelerating stage attaining high speed at the instant of center spot cutting), is effected during the period that the shell moves relative to the center spotting station. But that portion of the stroke in which the sleeve and punch elements of the die protrude into the shell, is wholly completed at decelerated rate during the first half of the short period of dwell of the shell at such station so as substantially to eliminate all shock of impact of the sleeve and of the punch as the latter contacts the liner of the shell, and as the lower end of the sleeve enters the shell it positions the latter with respect to the punch so that the spot may be properly centered therein.

A single die head could be operated for the rapid output of 800 caps advanced intermittently in sequence per minute if the ribbon from which the center spots are blanked out by the die could itself be started and stopped 860 times a minute.

Where such rapid feed of the ribbon is not feasible, the invention according to another aspect contemplates the use of two center spotting dies positioned at different stations, the first die being timed to spot a sequence of alternate crown shells and the second die bein timed to spot the sequence of alternate crown shells skipped by the first die. phase relation if the two center spotting stations are spaced by an even number of steps or if they are adjacent, or in opposed phase by spacing them an odd number of intervening stations.

In the accompanying drawings in which are shown one or more of various possible embodiments of the several features of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic fragmentary plan view of the machine,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 with the raceway and other parts broken away to disclose the crown advancing mechanism,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse view on a larger scale partly in cross section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic front elevational view of the operating stations of the machine,

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the configurations of the sequence of operating cams utilized in the machine,

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 of the cork feed taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 1,

Fig. I is a fragmentary detail sectional view on a larger scale of a center spot die, taken on line 1'I of Fig.1.

Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 3 of a center spot die taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 9 isv a graph showing the cycle of movement of the center spot die elements relative to the crown shell and the center spot ribbon, the

angular movement of the main shaft being the abscissa and the die stroke on an enlarged scale being the ordinate,

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic detail front elevational view of another embodiment of the machine,

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the configurations of the operating cams utilized in the embodiment of Fig. 10,

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic detail front elevational view of still another embodiment of the machine, and,

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic View showing the configurations of the operating cams utilized in the embodiment of Fig. 12.

While the various cams and gears for operating the constituent elements of the machine may be arranged in timed relation in any of a multiplicity of possible ways to be driven by a common motor M, a particularly desirable arrange ment is shown in the drawings.

The general construction of the crown shell assembling machine will first be described under appropriate titles, and as it is conventional in construction, will only be described to the ex- The dies could be operated either in tent necessary for a clear understanding of the invention, and then will be described the component structural parts of a preferred specific embodiment herein chosen to illustrate my invention.

General construction and shell feed eferring now to the drawings, a frame is provided on which the operating parts are mounted. The frame includes a table beneath which is rotatably mounted the main drive and cam shaft 21 which extends longitudinally of the machine, and which is driven by a motor M.

Extending through table 20 and rotatably mounted thereon is a pair of vertical shafts 22 and 23 one near each end of the table 29. Also rotatably mounted on table 26 and extending therethrough is a pair of vertical stud shafts 24 and 25 one near each end of the table, spaced from and transversely aligned respectively with vertical shafts 22 and 23. The upper end of each of said shafts 22, 23 and 24, 25 has affixed thereon in coaxial relation therewith, both a spur gear 26 and a drive disc 21, and each drive disc has an upstanding pin 28 near the periphery thereof. Each of shafts 22 and 23 has a horizontal bevel gear 29 affixed at the lower end thereof, which meshes with corresponding bevel gears 3i affixed on horizontal drive shaft 2|.

As the spur gears 26 on transversely aligned shafts 22, 2 1 and 23, 25 are respectively in mesh. it is apparent that upon rotation of shafts 22 and 23 and the drive discs 21 carried thereon in a clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 2, shafts 24 and 25 and the drive discs 2? carried thereon will be driven in a counterclockwise direction.

The drive discs 2'? are so arranged on their respective shafts that, as shown in Fig. 2, when the upstanding pins 28 on the drive discs associated with shafts 22, 23 will be in the 90 degree position, with respect to the upper end of the vertical radius of the drive discs indicated by the arrow heads which will be considered zero degrees, the upstanding pins on the drive discs associated with the shafts 24, 25 will be in the 270 degree position and hence in opposed phase.

As shown in Fig. 2 a carrying bar 32 is provided pivotally mounted at its ends as at 28 to one pair of longitudinally aligned pins 28 and a carrying bar 33 is provided pivotally mounted at its ends as at 28 to the other pair of longitudinally aligned pins 28. Rigidly affixed to said carrying bars 32, 33 respectively and extending longitudinally thereof are racks 35, 35 each of greater length than the carrying bars and each having a plurality of equally spaced laterally extending fingers 36 with each successive pair of fingers forming a pocket 31 in which the cup portion at of a conventional crown shell S may be positioned, the width of the pockets 3i being slightly greater than the width of the cup portion of the shell.

As shown in Fig. 2, the racks are positioned on their respective carrying bars so that the fingers 36 point inwardly toward each other, and are transversely aligned when the pins 28 carrying the respective bars are in the degree and 270 degree position above described, with one of the pockets 3? on rack 35 extending beyond the end of rack 34 on the left side of the machine and with one of the pockets 3'! on rack 34 extending beyond the end of rack 35 on the right side of the machine.

Associated with the racks 34 and 35 and positioned thereabove is a raceway 39 which coma cus prises a pair of spaced rails or tracks 4| and 42 rigidly mounted on the frame above the racks and extending longitudinally thereof. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the raceway extends longitudinally of the machine along the center thereof and is of such width that the cup portion of a crown shell S may be positioned therein with the flange 43 of the crown shell S seated on the beveled edges 44 of parallel tracks 4|, 42. In order to prevent the crown shells from jumping vertically out of the raceway during the operation of the machine, a pair of retaining strips 4i and 42 are provided aifixed to tracks 4! and 42 respectively, extending longitudinally thereof with the opposed inner edges 43' of the strips extending over the flanges 43 of the crown shells. The tracks are of such thickness that the bottom of the crown shell extends therebelow in the path of movement of the fingers 35 to be advanced through the machine in sequence to the various operating stations in the manner hereinafter described.

Thus as main drive shaft 2| rotates, it will rotate shafts 22, 23 through meshed bevel gears 3| and 23 at each end and also rotates stud shafts 24, 25 through the meshed pairs of transversely aligned spur gears 26, with shafts 22, 23 rotating in a clockwise direction and shafts 24, 25 rotating in counterclockwise direction.

Rack 35 will move parallel to itself in a counterclockwise direction in a circular path of trans lational movement toward and away from the raceway for a 180 degree rotation of the main drive shaft 2|, while at the same time rack 35 travels in a clockwise direction with a motion identical to that of rack 35 away from and toward the raceway for 186 degrees, the racks thus moving in opposed phase. During the next 180 degree period of rotation of the main drive shaft, rack 35 will move away from and toward the raceway while rack 34 will be moving toward and away from the raceway. V

In the harmonic movement of the racks longitudinally of the raceway, and because of the clearance between the crown shells and the rack fingers, there will be no effective longitudinally advance of the crown shells during the 10 degree movement at the beginning and at the end of each advance and of each retreat of the fingers of each rack, during which 10 degree periods the fingers move substantially transversely of the raceway, the effective forward motion of each crown shell thus occurring in two steps each of 160 degrees in each cycle.

With the top of the vertical radius of the main drive shaft indicated by arrow heads in Fig. 5 as the zero point, and with the racks in the position shown in Fig. 2, the pins 28 associated with racks 34, 35 are at the degree and 270 degree position respectively of drive discs 21. With a crown shell S positioned in the center of the pocket at station A formed by the first two fingers at the left end of rack 35, by reason of the clearance between the crown shell and the fingers of the pocket, the crown shell S will not advance until the main drive shaft has rotated 10 degrees and the discs 21 associated with rack 35 have also rotated 10 degrees to move pins 28 thereof to the 260 degree position. At this time the fingers 36 will start their effective longitudinal movement forward which will advance the crown shell S along raceway 39- to reach station B duringthe next degrees of rotation of the main drive shaft, which has thus rotated degrees.

Rack 35 will start to move substantiall transversely away from the raceway 39 for 20 degrees during which 20 degrees movement the crown shell S will be substantially stationary due to the play between the fingers of the rack and-the crown shell. The fingers 36 of the rack 35 will move away from and disengage the crown shell S at station E until the main shaft 2| has rotated to 190 degrees whereupon continued rotation of the main shaft for 160 degrees more, or to 350 degrees will return the fingers 36 to station A and thereupon will repeat the procedure on another crown shell S fed to station A.

At the same time as rack 35 is moving toward and away from the raceway and advancing a crown shell to station B during 160 degrees of a degree rotation of the main drive shaft 2!, rack 34 will be moving in reverse direction away from and toward the raceway for 180 degrees. During the first 170 degrees rotation of the main drive shaft,- the pocket 31 formed by the first and second fingers 36 on the left end of rack 34 will move idly from station B to station A, whereupon they will engage a crown shell S fed to this station. After 20 degrees dwell during which time the fingers of rack 34 are moving substantially transversely of the raceway during the next 170 degree rotation of the main drive shaft the first and second fingers thereof will advance the crown shell s at station A longitudinally of the raceway to station B and the second and third fingers thereof will advance to station C the crown shell S previously moved to station B by the fingers of rack 35.

Thus it is apparent that when shells are constantly supplied to the input end of the raceway, then with each 360 degree rotation of the main drive shaft during which time both racks will move in a complete circular path of translational movement for one cycle, each of the crown shells S will be moved two steps with a simple harmonic motion during each step, as from station A to station C (one step by rack 35 and a second step by rack 34) with a dwell of approximately 20 degrees at each station.

It is during the periods of dwell between successive stepping movements of the crown shells through the machine that the various assembly operations are performed.

To apply adhesive to the bottom of the crown shell and spread such adhesive uniformly, a vertical plunger 5| as shown in Fig. 3 is provided having a supply of liquid adhesive fed thereto in any suitable manner and slidably mounted in a. bracket 52 affixed to the frame. The plunger is desirably positioned directly over the raceway at station D whereby it may be vertically aligned with one of the crown shells when the latter is at rest at such station, and has a valve 53 at the lower end thereof opened by a stem 53' when the latter contacts the bottom of the crown shell.

After the adhesive has been applied to the crown shell bottom as by means of valve 53 at the lower end of the plunger, it is spread by means of a felt pad 54 (Fig. 4) carried at the end of a vertically reciprocable plunger 55 positioned directly over the raceway, desirably at station E.

A typical linkage for actuating the plungers til, 55, which are desirably actuated simultaneously is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Thus upright brackets 56 and 51 are provided afiixed to the table 20 and pivotally mounting respectively, levers 58 and 59, in turn pivotally connected to the upper end of plungers 5| and 55 respectively and joined at their other ends by a transverse rod A pitman 62 is pivotally connected at one end to said rod, and extends below the table. The lower end of pitman 62 is pivotally connected to a lever 63 pivotally mounted near its mid portion in a bracket 64 depending from the underface of table and carrying a cam roller at its free end which rides on the periphery of a cam 66 affixed to shaft 21. By means of a coil spring 61 afiixed at one end to one of said upright brackets, for example bracket 56, and its other end to pitman 62 the cam roller 65 is resiliently urged against cam 65.

As it is necessary that every crown shell passing through the machine have adhesive applied thereto and evenly distributed thereon, cam 65 as shown in Figs. 3 and 5 has two depressions 51 and 68 in the periphery thereof with the leading edges of said depressions 180 degrees apart. The cam 66 is positioned on shaft 2! so that the bottom of the depressions will be vertiand will be removed from the crown shells be- 3 fore the latter start to move at the end of the 20 degree dwell period.

Thus twice every 360 degrees, while the crown shells are at rest at station D and E, the plungers 5i and 55 will move down and up to apply adhesive to the crown shell at station D, and spread the adhesive at station E on the crown shell to which the adhesive had previously been applied 180 degrees before at station D.

Cork applying As the crown shells advance from station to station with each 180 degree rotation of the main drive shaft 2!, they will successively enter the cork applying station H which is desirably spaced three stations away from station E to'provide room for the mechanism.

Station H illustratively comprises a pair of vertical tubes H and 12 respectively positioned on each side of the raceway transversely aligned with station H, and a vertical plunger 13 slidably mounted in a sleeve 14 afiixed to the frame and positioned over the raceway at station H.

As shown in Fig. 6 each tube has a stack of cork discs i5 therein and preferably laterally slidable pusher plates l5 and ll are provided,

associated respectively with the bottom ends of said tubes H and '12. Each of said plates is connected by a conventional linkage to an eccentric 18 shown in Fig. 5 whereby when plate I! is moved to' the left as shown in Fig. 6 to permit a cork disc to drop on a transverse guideway I9 mounted beneath tube '13 on the track 42, plate l6 will have moved to the left to move a cork disc '15 from tube H across transverse guideway 8i therebeneath mounted on track 4| so that the disc is positioned directly above the crown shell at station H and. beneath plunger 13.

Thus it is clear that with each 180 degrees rotation of the main drive shaft 2i, a cork disc will be positioned over the crown shell at station 1-1. As every crown shell must have a cork disc therein, it is necessary that plunger 13 reciprocate once every 180 degrees rotation of the main drive shaft and that the cork disc is not forced into the crown shell until the latter is at rest during one of the 20 degree dwell periods. To this end a linkage is provided which may be similar to the linkage shown and described with respect to the adhesive applying and spreading plungers 5|, 55, and hence will not be further described. The cam 82 which actuates the linkage for the cork plunger is identical to cam 66 and as shown in Fig. 5 has two depressions 83 and 84 therein, the leading edges of which are 180 degrees apart.

The construction thus far described is not per se claimed herein as it is conventional, the present invention being illustratively described as incorporated in such machine.

Center spotting According to the present invention, in order to apply center spots to the crown shells at the high rate of speed desired for efficient and economical operation, two of the crown shells which are advanced in sequence longitudinally from station to station in equal steps. have center spots applied thereto respectively at fixed stations in the course of the intervals between steps of each cycle.

More specifically, two identical center spot dies 85 and 86 are provided positioned at an antecedent station and a subsequent station and desirably timed so that the spotting operation at the antecedent station spots a sequence of alternate crown shells and the spotting operation at the subsequent station spots the sequence of alternate crown shells skipped at the antecedent station.

In one embodiment of the machine shown in Fig. l, the dies have an even number of intervening stations, being illustratively at stations J and M, three stations apart along the machine.

Referring to Figs. 7 and 8 the die comprises a vertically reciprocable sleeve 8'5 including a centering head so at its lower end, tapered at its lower edge 95. Sleeve 8? is slidably mounted in a bearing 88 affixed to the frame, and a vertically reciprocable punch 89 is slidably mounted in said sleeve 81. The sleeve and punch are positioned directly over the raceway at stations J and M.

The sleeve 8'! has a transverse slot 9! therethrough near the lower end thereof above the upper rim 94 of head 99 which slot is desirably inch high and of sufiicient width to accommodate a ribbon 92 from which the center spot is cut. The ribbon is desirably advanced in a step by step movement through the slot Si by a suitable feed mechanism (diagrammatically shown in Fig. '7) desirably actuated by the main drive motor M and preferably moistened in conventional manner as described in Patent No. 2,117,111, dated May 17, 1938, on the adhesively coated underface thereof.

Preferably the lower end 93 of the punch when idle is positioned inch above the top of the slot 9! and the distance from the rim 94 of the head (which forms the cutting edge of the sleeve) to the bottom edge 95 of the sleeve is inch. The bottom edge 95 of the sleeve when idle is desirably inch above the cork disc l5, and the punch 89 in idle position is accordingly one inch above the cork disc 75. The sleeve 81 and the punch 89 are actuated by a suitable transmission from the main drive shaft. Although many possible transmissions could be used, a typical one is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 8.

9 Thus, upright brackets 91 and 98 are provided, aflixed to the table on each side thereof respectively and on each of which is pivotally mounted near one end levers 99 and IIlI respectively. The levers are pivotally connected 5 at one end respectively to sleeve 81 and to punch 85, and at their other end pivotally connected to pitman levers I02 and I03 respectively. The free ends of the pitman levers are respectively pivotally connected to levers I04 and IE5, each being pivotally mounted near its mid point to brackets I06 and IE1 respectively depending from the underface of table 20, the levers carrying cam rollers I08 and I09 respectively at their free end which ride on the periphery of cams I I2 and III respectively affixed to shaft 2|. By means of coil springs II3 and H4 affixed at one end respectively to brackets 91 and 98 and at their other ends respectively to pitman levers Hi2 and I03 the cam rollers are resiliently urged against their associated cams.

As shown in Fig. 5, cam I I2 which actuates the punch 89 has a depression IIII therein on the periphery thereof which desirably occupies 140 degrees of the circumference of the cam and is so positioned on shaft 2| that its leading edge H3 will engage the cam roller I09 when the main drive shaft has rotated 110 degrees from the zero position shown.

The curvature of the depression III; in cam H2 is desirably such, that the movement of the punch 89 as shown in Fig. 9 will be as follows: The punch 89 will accelerate in a simple harmonic motion until the main shaft has rotated to 150 degrees at which time the punch will have reached its maximum downward velocity and thereupon will continue uniformly at such speed until the main shaft has rotated to 170 degrees whereupon the punch will decelerate, desirably also in a simple harmonic motion until the main shaft has rotated to 180 degrees when the punch will be at rest. From this rest position the punch will accelerate in a simple harmonic motion until the main shaft has rotated to 190 degrees at which time the punch has reached its maximum upward velocity and thereupon will continue uniformly at such speed until the main shaft has rotated to 210 degrees at which time the punch will decelerate in a simple harmonic motion until the main shaft has rotated to 250 degrees when the punch comes to rest.

As shown in Fig. 5, cam III which actuates the sleeve 81 has a depression 4 therein on the periphery thereof which desirably occupies degrees of the circumference of the cam and is so positioned on shaft 2| that the leading edge H5 of the cam will engage the cam roller I08, when the main drive shaft 2| has rotated 155 degrees from the zero position shown.

The curvature of the depression I I4 in cam I I I is desirably such, that the movement of the sleeve 81 as shown in Fig. 9 will be as follows: The sleeve 81 will desirably accelerate in a simple harmonic motion until the main drive shaft 2| has rotated to 170 degrees at which time the sleeve has reached its maximum downward velocity. The sleeve thereupon will decelerate in a simple harmonic motion until at 180 degrees rotation of the main shaft it will be at rest. From this rest position the sleeve will accelerate desirably in a simple harmonic motion until the main shaft has rotated to 190 degrees at which time the sleeve has reached its maximum upward velocity and thereupon will decelerate in a simple harmonic motion until the main shaft has ro- 10 tated to 205 degrees when the sleeve comes to rest.

Operation In operation each shell is moved step by step" one station for each 180 degree rotation of the main drive shaft in manner above described for performance at various stations in sequence of the adhesive application, adhesive spreading and cork insertion all by the more or less conventional equipment above described until the partially assembled crown shells with the cork discs therein are ready for the application of the center spots.

The advance of the crown shell to station J and the operation of die thereat for a complete cycle is as follows:

Referring specifically to Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 9, after the main shaft has rotated degrees the crown shells are still in motion and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 will advance from station I toward station J. The ribbon 92 of center spot material which is being advanced transversely through the slot 9| in sleeve 81 (Fig. '7) as above described, comes to rest before the die 85 is actuated.

When the main drive shaft has rotated 20 degrees further to degrees, the die punch 89 starts its downward stroke through the still stationary sleeve 81, at a time that the crown shell continues its motion toward station J, and the ribbon 92 of spot material has come to rest, and at degrees the die punch has descended about t; inch and has passed the lower cutting edge 94 of the sleeve at relatively high speed and cut a center spot from the ribbon. At degrees of rotation of the main shaft, the die punch has descended /2 inch through the still stationary sleeve and at this point has reached its maximum downward velocity and continues uniformly at this velocity until it has descended of an inch at degrees rotation of the main shaft and is aligned with the upper rim of the crown shell side wall.

While the punch 89 is descending as above described, the sleeve 81, at 155 degrees rotation of the main shaft, starts its downward stroke, and at 1'70 degrees has reached its maximum downward velocity equal to that of the punch, after having descended 1% of an inch, at which time both the lower end of the sleeve and the lower end of the punch are aligned with the upper rim of that crown shell which shell has by now come to res The punch and sleeve now enter the crown shell at the same velocity, decelerating in a simple harmonic motion until at degree rotation of the main shaft they are at rest substantially flush with the cork liner I5 and the punch presses the previously cut center spot against the upper face of the cork disc in the crown shell whereupon the punch and the sleeve start to ascend.

As it enters the crown shell, the tapered end 95 of the sleeve will center with respect to the punch, the crown shell that is loosely lodged between the straddling fingers 36 so that the spot will be accurately positioned on the center of the cork disc 15.

As is diagrammatically shown in Fig. 9 the ascending stroke of the punch and sleeve thereupon occurs in reverse order and reverse sense to the descending stroke previously described.

At 270 degree rotation of the main shaft the feeding of the ribbon 92 again begins and at 350 degrees rotation of main shaft 2| the crown shell which has had the center spot applied at masts crown shells, during which time the main shaft rotates to 180 degrees, the unfinished crown shell at station J will be moved to station K and the finished crown shell at station K will be moved to station L while at the same time another unfinished crown will be fed from station I to station J where a center spot will be applied in the manner previously applied.

Thus it is clear that the center spot die 85 at station J only operates once every 360 degree rotation of the main shaft, i. e., from 120 degrees to 250 degrees with the actual work being done in the period between 170* and 190 degrees, and hence only a sequence of alternate shells will be center spotted at station J. As two crown shells will pass this station every 360 degrees rotation of the main shaft, it is apparent therefore that a second center spot applying die is required, spaced suficiently from station J so that it will work on the sequence of alternate crown shells skipped at station J.

In one embodiment of this invention the second center spot die which is at station M, three steps removed from station J and which is identical in all respects to station J operates in phase therewith.

Thus considering the machine as if it has been operating for some time, after the last center spot has been applied at station J, the next step will advance a finished crown shell from station L to station M, an unfinished crown shell from station K to station L, the finished crown shell from station J to station K and an unfinished crown shell from station I to station J. However no work will be done during this step as above described, as it is not during the 110 degree to 250 degree period of rotation of the main shaft. The next stepping movement of the rack will advance a previously finished crown shell from station M to station N, an unfinished crown shell from station L to the dies at station J and M will be simultaneous- 1y actuated and center spots will be applied with the die at station M spotting the sequence of alternate crown shellsskipped at station J Thus we see with the above arrangement every crown shell will have a center spot applied therto.

It is of course to be understood that the second center spot applying station could be located at any odd number of steps away from station J, i. e., at station K or at station 0. However in order to keep the size of the machine to a minimum, it is desirable to keep the two dies as close as possible with the above spacing, and the physical dimensions of the dies are such that it would be too close to locate the second die at station K.

If desired the arrangement shown in Figs. 10 and ll. could be used where the dies are located two steps apart. With such arrangement the dies 85 and B6 and the cams therefore would be identical in configuration and structure to the dies and 36 and their associated cams. However the cams I2! and I22 associated with die 86 would be 180 degrees displaced on shaft 2I with respect to cams I2I and I22 associated with die 85 so that the dies would operate 180 degrees apart.

Thus for example with an unfinished crown shell at station J and L and a finished crown shell at station K, die 85' would be applying a spot while die 85 would be raised. The next 180 degree rotation of the main shaft would move an unfinished crown shell from station I to station J, another unfinished crown shell from station J to station K, and move a finished crown shell from station K to station L and another finished crown shell from station L to station M. Die 85 would thereupon apply a spot at station J while die 86 at station L would be raised. This procedure is thereupon repeated. With this arrangement during all of the intervals of the steps of the cycle, a center spot would be applied at station J on a sequence of alternate crown shells and during the other interval of the steps of the cycle a center spot would be applied at station L on the sequence of alternate crown shells skipped at station J.

With the two arrangements of the center spot dies 85, 86 and 85', 86 hereinabove described, althrough two crown shells are passing each of the dies every 360 degree rotation of the main drive shaft, the dies are only operating once every such 360 degree rotation yet every crown shell has a spot applied thereto. Thus as the number of strokes of each of the dies and hence the amount of vibration is kept at a minimum, the machine may be run at a relatively high rate of speed say 400 R. P. M. of the main shaft with likelihood of breakdown and need for repairs kept at a minimum and in addition, at such speed there is little likelihood of the ribbon of spot material tearing.

If the machine is run at a lower rate of speed with resultant slower stepping speed of the ribbon through the die, one of the dies may be dispensed with entirely and the arrangement shown in Figs. 12 and 13 may be used.

The die 85 is identical to die 85 and the cams I23 and I24 instead of each having one depression in the periphery thereof, have two depressions each, with the leading edges I25 thereof 180 degrees apart, the depressions having the same configurations previously described with respect to cams I I I and I I2.

With such arrangement, the die 85 will operate twice every 360 degrees which is possible as the total angular distance occupied by the larger depression of the cam, i. e., cam I24, is only degrees. Thus the die will be moving for 280 degrees and'at rest for 80 degrees.

With the arrangement and relative movement of the punch and sleeve of the dies above described in any of the embodiments shown, both the punch and the sleeve will start slowly, reach the maximum speed and then decelerateso that at the moment they are flush with the cork they will be at rest and sufficient distance is provided to enable a clean cut spot to be formed in the minimum of space thus enabling the maximum speed to be achieved and hence the maximum efilciency of the machine. Consequently there will be no sudden starting or stopping of the die elements and hence vibration and stress on the machine will be kept at a minimum.

As the downward motion of both the sleeve 8'! and the punch 89 is brought about by the associated springs H4 and H3 which hold the rollers [09 and H18 against the respective cams, HI, H2, such spring action will accommodate the movement of the sleeve and the punch to small variations in height caused by variations in the thickness of the shell or the cork disc.

In addition the arrangement of the dies in the first two embodiments above described will enable the machine to operate at a relatively high rate of speed to provide a clean cut circular spot without danger of the ribbon of spot material tearing or of inaccurate feed thereof with resultant stoppage of the machine for adjustment or replacement of such ribbon.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope of the claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. Bottle capping. machinery comprising a drive shaft, a raceway for crown shells, a pair of shell advancing racks parallel thereto and movable thereunder from opposite sides thereof, operating stations above and along said raceway, said racks each having a plurality of equally spaced laterally extending fingers, successive fingers being spaced a distance slightly greater than the diameter of such crown shells and adapted to straddle the latter with a play between said fingers and such shells, means operatively connected to said drive shaft for imparting to said racks translational movement in opposed circular paths and in opposed phase for intermittent advance of such shells two stations for each cycle of the racks, with a short period of rest intervening between successive advances of such shells, said stations including die means to out and position center spots in two shells for each cycle of the racks, said die means comprising punch means and sleeve means coacting therewith, associated center spot ribbon feed, cam means operatively connected to said drive shaft, linkage between said cam means and said punch means for operating the latter to out two center spots, and cam means operatively connected to said drive shaft, linkage between said cam means and said sleeve means for operating the latter to position such shells during such short rest period in each cycle of the racks preparatory to centering the respective spots therein.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the cam means associated with said punch means has a substantially large configuration on the periphery thereof and the cam means associated with said sleeve means has a substantially small configuration on the periphery thereof whereby said punch means will be actuated for a greater period than said sleeve means.

3. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the cam means associated with said punch means has a substantially large configuration on the periphery thereof and the cam means associated with said sleeve means has a substantially small configuration on the periphery thereof substantially symmetrical with said substantially large configuration whereby said punch means will be actuated for a greater period'than said sleeve means.

4. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the cam means associated with said punch means has a configuration on the pe riphery thereof to actuate said punch means during degrees rotation of said cam means and the cam means associated with said sleeve means has a configuration on the periphery thereof to actuate said sleeve means during 50 degrees rotation of said cam means.

5. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which means are provided on said sleeve to center said shell with respect to the punch during such short rest period prior to engagement of the spot with the shell.

6. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which said cam means are constructed and arranged to accelerate said die to a relatively high speed at the instant of cutting the center spot from said ribbon and to decelerate thereafter for bottoming the center spot in such shell with a minimum of impact.

7. The combination set forth in' claim 1 in 3 which said die means includes a reciprocable vertical sleeve with a transverse ribbon feed slot therethrough presenting a cutting edge, a reciprocable punch slidably mounted in said sleeve, said cam means being constructed and arranged to accelerate said punch to a relatively high speed at the instant of cutting the center spot and thereafter to decelerate said punch for bottoming said spot in such shell with a minimum of impact and substantially concurrently therewith to bring said sleeve to the bottom of its stroke into said shell.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 in which the lower end of said sleeve is tapered and said sleeve has an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of such shell, whereby when said sleeve enters such shell during such short rest period, said shell will be centered with respect to the punch.

9. The combination set forth in claim '7 in which said ribbon extends transversely through said slot and means are provided intermittently to advance said ribbon through said slot once each complete cycle of said racks whereby a fresh area of said ribbon will be presented to said punch.

10. Bottle capping machinery comprising a drive shaft, a raceway for crown shells, a pair of shell advancing racks parallel thereto and movable thereunder from opposite sides thereof, operating stations above and along said raceway, said racks each having a plurality of equally spaced laterally extending fingers, successive fingers being spaced a distance slightly greater than the diameter of such crown shells and adapted to straddle the latter with a play between said fingers and such shells, means operatively connected to said drive shaft for imparting to said racks translational movement in opposed circular paths and in opposed phase for intermittent advance of such shells two stations for each cycle of the racks, with a short period of rest intervening between successive advances of such shells, said stations including a first center spotting station, a second center spotting station longitudinally spaced along said raceway an odd number of stations from said first center spotting station, each of said two stations having a die to cut and position center spots in such crown shells, said die including a punch and a sleeve, a ribbon feed associated with said die, means simultaneously to actuate said two dies to cut and position center spots in two shells for each cycle of the racks, said means comprising cam means operatively connected to said drive shaft, linkage between said cam means and said punches for operating the latter to out two center spots, and cam means operatively connected to said drive shaft, linkage betwen said cam means and said sleeves for operating the latter to position such shells during such short rest period in each cycle of the racks preparatory to centering the respective spots therein.

lll. Bottle capping machinery comprising a drive shaft, a raceway for crown shells, a pair of shell advancing racks parallel thereto and movable thereunder from opposite sides thereof, operating stations above and along said raceway, said racks each having a plurality of equally spaced laterally extending fingers, successive fingers being spaced 8, distance slightly greater than the diameter of such crown shells and adapted to straddle the latter with a play between said fingers and such shells, means operatively connected to said drive shaft for imparting to said racks translational movement in opposed circular paths and in opposed phase for intermittent advance of such shells two stations for each cycle of the racks with a short period of rest intervening between successive advances of said shells, said stations including a first center spotting station, a second center spotting station longitudinally spaced along said raceway an even number of stations from said first center spotting station, each of said stations having a die to out and position center spots in such crown shells, said die including a punch and a sleeve, a ribbon feed associated with said die, means alternately to actuate said two dies to cut and position center spots in two shells for each cycle of the racks, said means comprising cam means operatively connected to said drive shaft, linkage between said cam means and said punches for alternately operating the latter to cut two center spots, and cam means operatively connected to said drive shaft, linkage between said cam means and said sleeves for alternately operating the latter to position two such shells during such short rest period in each cycle of the racks preparatory to centering the respective spots therein.

12. Bottle capping machinery comprising a drive shaft, a raceway for crown shells, a pair of shell advancing racks parallel thereto and movable thereunder from opposite sides thereof, operating stations above and along said raceway. said racks each having a plurality of equally spaced laterally extending fingers, successive fingers being spaced 3, distance slightly greater than the diameter of such crown shells and adapted to straddle the latter with a play between said fingers and such shells, means operatively connected to said drive shaft for imparting to said racks translational movement in opposed circular paths and in opposed phase for intermittent advance of such shells two stations for each cycle of the racks, with a short period of rest intervening between successive advances of such shells, adhesive applying, adhesive spreading, liner and center spotting disc insertion instrumentalities at a sequence of stations, means to operate the instrumentalities at said respective station for operation on two shells for each cycle of the racks, said center spotting instrumentality including die means comprising punch means and sleeve means coacting therewith, associated center spot ribbon feed, cam means operatively connected to said drive shaft, linkage between said cam means and said punch means for operating the latter to out two center spots, and cam means operatively connected to said drive shaft, linkage between said cam means and. said sleeve means for operating the latter to position such shells during such short rest period in each cycle of the racks preparatory to centerin the respective spots therein.

BENNO COHN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file or this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Weisenburg May 24, 1949 

